A review by krissssofia
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I wish this series was targeted for an older audience, with higher stakes and a bit more violence. The first book definitely got me interested, as the structure of the mystery seemed intriguing, but the second book felt lacking. The unraveling of the truth felt over complicated, and the search and discovery felt dragged on. I'm not a fan of short chapters, especially those that only establish setting and jump to even more setting, only to further drag until there's actual action. The unique censorship used by Max's character took away from the general vibe of the story to the point where I couldn't take it seriously. I know it's targeted toward YA, so I may be judging a little too harshly.